News ~ Announcements ~ Updates


A Fundraiser to support autism was held recently at Stanton Lanes in Wilkes-Barre . Chris Culver, a senior at Wyoming Valley West HS organized a local fundraiser called “STRIKING AUTISM DOWN” at Stanton Lanes in Wilkes-Barre . This fundraiser was a huge success and raised $1,440.00. All proceeds have been donated to the Earthly Angels Autism Fund of the Luzerne Foundation and will be used for autistic services and support. Pictured below are Chris Culver and Ron D’Eliseo (Chairman & Co-Founder, Earthly Angels). 

Thank you Chris, great job!


EDUCATION SECRETARY ANNOUNCES GRANTS TO AID STUDENTS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS

Funding Will Help Students Move From Schools to Community-Based Employment

 HARRISBURG – Hundreds of students with autism spectrum disorders will receive help moving from school to community-based employment through $400,000 in performance grants announced today by Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak.

“We have made tremendous strides in the education field to provide the needed supports to students with autism spectrum disorders,” the secretary said. “These grants allow us to extend that support beyond school and into the working world.”

The grants will be distributed to:

·        Delaware County Intermediate Unit 25 - $39,939

·        Devereux’s Center for Autism Research and Educational Services, Downingtown - $45,000

·        North Penn School District, Montgomery County - $34,459

·        Carbon-Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21 - $42,759

·        Elwyn’s Davidson School, Elwyn, Delaware County - $44,929

·        Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 - $45,000

·        Capital Area Intermediate Unit 15 - $45,000

·        Lancaster School District - $39,526

·        Bucks County Intermediate Unit 22 - $45,000

·        Hazleton Area School District - $18,388

 The grants are used to establish or expand programs that support school-to-work transition services or for programs that bring together youth and families, educational, agency, and business partners to develop and implement systematic career development strategies, with the goal of placing the students in community-based, competitive employment.

The efforts of the 10 entities will benefit about 300 students across the commonwealth.

The Bureau of Special Education, through the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN), will help all grantees with project implementation, data collection and dissemination of results.

To learn more about the autism and secondary transition initiatives, visit the autism and secondary transition homepages and the professional development resources section at www.pattan.net.

To learn more about Pennsylvania’s education initiatives, visit www.pde.state.pa.us. 


 

SRA International Supports Earthly Angels

The SRA Enterprise Lifecycle Solutions Team, based in Scranton, PA, recently celebrated SRA’s 30th Anniversary by conducting a clothing drive to benefit a local children’s charity. The team hosted a small SRA Anniversary celebration with other local businesses, while collecting shoe and clothing donations. The donations were then combined with other clothing donations being held by a local radio station, and the total proceeds were given to the Earthly Angels Autism Fund of the Luzern Foundation. The Earthly Angels Autism Fund organization has been in existence since 2001 and continues to raise money to support and educate local autistic children and their families. Pictured from left to right: Jim Dudley, Gary Celli, Gerald O’Hara, Ron D’Eliseo, Apparao Prattipati, Amy Bell and Jackie Vander Woude.


 

Second Annual Michael A. Moir Golf Tournament
First Financial Group held its Second Annual Michael A. Moir Memorial Golf Tournament at Edgewood in the Pines Golf Course in Drums on Friday, June 27. The tournament resulted in a charitable donation to the Earthly Angels Autism Fund of The Luzerne Foundation in the amount of $12,500.

A total of 100 golfers participated sharing in prizes for the first and second place winners of two flights. Numerous donated items were given as door prizes and to the winners of the various contests held throughout the afternoon.

The winning team consisting of Tony D'Eliseo, Rich Petrillo, Dr. Sam Valenti and Brian Hastings won first place trophies with a score of 63.

Pictured above are Jim Murphy, CLU, CHFC Vice President of First Financial Group and Ron D'Eliseo, founder of Earthly Angels Autism Fund.


 A new website is up and running! For resources and information on Autism in and around Northeastern Pennsylvania, you can visit: www.autismsupportpa.com, contact person: Allison Wallace, Honesdale, PA. 689-7825